ChatGPT joins the EU’s list of largest online platforms under the DSA

The European Commission has placed ChatGPT under the strictest tier of its Digital Services Act, subjecting OpenAI to the same additional oversight that applies to Europe’s biggest online platforms.

Reddit and Roblox were designated at the same time, The Verge reports, bringing all three services under a broader set of obligations for companies operating at significant scale in the EU.

Under the DSA, services averaging at least 45 million monthly users in the EU can be classified as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs). Reaching that threshold brings additional responsibility for identifying and addressing systemic risks. In ChatGPT’s case, regulators will expect OpenAI to assess issues ranging from the service’s impact on minors and users’ mental health to the potential distribution of illegal content.

The rules also restrict targeted advertising to minors and prohibit ads based on sensitive information such as religion, ethnicity or political views. Companies covered by the designation face stricter transparency requirements for systems that recommend and rank content, along with broader obligations to explain and mitigate risks associated with their platforms. ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox have until the end of December 2026 to meet the additional requirements.

The Commission framed the decision as a response to the growing reach of the three services. “These new designations mean that ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox will now be held to a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability in the European Union, in line with their large impact on our citizens and society,” Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen said. ChatGPT is the first major generative AI service to receive the designation, putting it under the same DSA rules as the EU’s largest social and online platforms.